A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Day 24: New Heart
There comes a time when if we want a different outcome we need a different approach. I heard this morning that my hometown football team fired their head coach. He is probably a very accomplished person. But because the results aren’t what they need to be the management decided to look for a new vision.
Has what you’ve been doing gotten you the results you desire? If not a new approach could be the answer. I have started forming new habits that are improving my life. But before the new habit came a new idea. But with the new idea came a new mindset.
God has promised to give his people a new heart. Ask him for it! Ask Him for a vision of the habits to give you a new healthy life physically and spiritually. He’s willing and able.
Today I will be open to new ways with my new heart!
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Day 23: Serpent Safe
There was a time when doing what was right was more important than doing what would get you out of trouble. However, mankind now has determined to use the methods of the serpent to worm our way out of trouble or worse yet to deceive others for our personal gain.
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Genesis 3:1-7
In this story the serpent creates doubt in the woman’s mind by suggesting that the prohibition to eat fruit from the special tree is a way God is trying to keep her down and keep her away from being more powerful like He is. In reality God wants to live forever with Adam and Eve and doesn’t want them tainted by sin which He knows He will have to destroy to protect the universe. Satan the serpent tricks Eve into believing what isn’t true about God. And he tricks her into hurting herself and Adam.
Are there things you do today that you were curious about but now find hard to give up? Even if you have seen that they hurt you, is it hard to stop doing them? If so you’ve been lead away from safety by the serpent. And he’s taking us farther and farther away from God’s plan expressed in His word. But is there any way we can be serpent safe?
Make level paths for your feet to walk on. Only go on ways that are firm.
Proverbs 4:26
I remember wondering how the bible could say in Matthew 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” What would be so amazing that the very chosen of God would be deceived. But then I lived for 30 years. I watched more and more compromise enter church life. Sometimes it was in the name of social justice. Other times it was in the name of being up to date. Sometime it was in the name of reaching the unchurched. Eventually, I became confused as to what really was wrong and right.
Now we’ve come to a point where more and more things we used to protect ourselves and our children from are the fruit we eat daily. Do you see what I’m seeing? I’m frightened. I am affected. I understand Matthew 24:24 better.
When it comes to spiritual health as with physical health we may know that something is bad for us but because it feels good we do it anyway. And then we find it difficult to give up until a crisis comes. But often by then it is too late. The disease is terminal, the family breaks apart, the crisis blows up. So what is the remedy?
I Thessalonians 5:22 tells us “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” If someone promotes principles contrary to what the bible says, than tells you to buy their book or gospel album don’t you think you might want to give that a second thought? Matthew 7:16 reminds us “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” You wouldn’t drink from the sewer, would you? When we are told in proverbs to only go on ways that are firm it’s because when you make a pattern of doing what is questionable eventually you will find yourself doing things that you once new to be wrong and not be sure how you got there.
To find healing we need to leave alone what is questionable. As I grow older peace and safety become more important to me than adventure and excitement. It’s not that the thrills don’t have a place. It’s just that I’ve been hurt so much in this life that I want to choose green pastures and walk beside still waters. I want to stay close to my Savior. Take this week and eat only food that you know is good for you. In addition why not pray and ask God to help you only watch, read, or listen to that which will draw you closer to Him. It’s too late to take unnecessary chances. Jesus is coming soon.
Today I choose to be serpent safe remembering, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
Proverbs 4:26
Imagine if you were told every day since you were born that you were ugly. The chances are high that you would believe it. Imagine if you had been told that you were stupid. While some might be inspired to prove that statement wrong many if not most of us would be a victim of this lie turned prophecy.
PLEASE READ THIS! Every day you are exposed to repeated lies and negative ideas. Some come from businesses that want to convince you to buy their product. They want you to think that your life is incomplete without their product. Some lies come from organizations that wish to control your behavior. Some come from others who are victims of unhealthy influences themselves. But no matter the source this will harm your health.
Please think of the remedy through two lenses today: The first, how we learn.
When you have to prepare for a test you usually spend time going over the information you have studied. If you are not able to remember certain concepts then you go over those ideas more until you have mastered them. You use repetition to learn.
So the music you listen to over and over, the programming you view over and over (with commercials you view even more times over) all teach you. So if you spend most of your time learning what others want you to know you are a victim of their agenda. What do you want to learn? Pursue things that will make your life better.
If we want to heal from the toxic effects of others manipulative repeated exposures we should unplug from the exposures. Take a media fast. Maybe choose for a week to only listen to, read, and study that which is positive or healthy. Then see how you feel after that week. If you are waiting for someone to come save you perhaps this is your wake up call. Take action yourself. God has already provided what you need.
The second lens to consider is how we buy. Traditional wisdom has suggested that we make a buying decision after 8 to 10 exposures to a product. People will believe a lie if they hear it long enough. We may have beliefs that hurt us because we have been exposed to repeated lies until we accept them as truth.
Expose yourself to the healing words from God’s book. Spend time with people who say things that improve your life. Nurture relationships that are healthy. Because there is so much information aimed at you to enslave you and misuse you, you and I must be vigilant in immersing ourselves in what is best for us.
Today I will unplug from that which repeatedly diminishes all God has made me to be.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
I John 3:18
We can spend our whole lives trying to be good enough for those who don’t love us and fail miserably both at gaining their approval and enjoying life. Be your authentic self. Don’t waste energy trying to please others. Instead seek to please our Father in heaven.
As a musician I have listened to advice in many workshops about creating a following through social media. The goal being that you should have enough fans that you can make a living off of. But I started thinking more deeply about this. I spoke with a church leader who was overwhelmed by all the people who wanted to be her friend on Facebook. She felt that people should understand that she doesn’t have time to connect with everyone she meets in her travels.
When we develop hundreds and thousands of followers do we seek to make the interaction mutually beneficial? Are they getting to know who we really are or who we think they will be interested in following? When do we have enough friends or followers? And are we in our thirst for more notoriety failing to minister to the ones God has already given us access to? Do our marriages suffer due to our lust for fame? Do our children feel less important because we don’t have time for them because we have to make another post?
Today I will be authentic and will do one thing to show how I value my primary relationships. I will stop creating fake versions of me to please fake friends.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Day 20: Life Happens
In case you weren’t prepared by those who raised you allow me to inform you: Life happens! Bones sometimes break as do hearts. Not every road leads to success. Not every friend is golden. And even those who follow the cross have issues that make the journey rough.
So don’t think that because you have problems that there is something wrong with you!!!! Life happens! Some children struggle in school while others breeze through. Some marriages end in divorce. Some illnesses are unto death. Some promises aren’t kept: either by us or by those close to us.
And so we must not question whether we are loved by God because we are going through some pain or difficulty.
In John chapter 9 we read a story of a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Coming across a man blind from birth the disciples asked who sinned, this man or his parents. Jesus response is for us today as well. He wasn’t blind because someone sinned. Life happens.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
John 9:1-7 NIV
So know that God loves you whether you are blind or can see. Whether you are overweight or fit. He is with you whether you are sick in the hospital or preparing to run your 7th marathon.
I heard a song that brought me great comfort. It was recorded by Mali Music end it spoke deeply to me. I come from a two parent home. My mom was a nurse and my father was a preacher and teacher. We grew up in a middle class home with several loving communities to nurture us. But today my world doesn’t look like the one I grew up in. Life happens. And so we begin to heal when we accept that life happens and we aren’t perfect but God still loves us anyway. Please listen to the song. I think it will encourage you.
Today I acknowledge that life happens and let go of the weight of the woes.
There are somethings that fill my heart with wonder. I love the water. I love being near the ocean, feeling the mist and hearing the waves rhythmically come to shore. When I sit by the water I feel peace. I wish I could do this every day.
There are people whose gifts fill my heart with wonder. Last night I was able to spend time listening to an incredible musician. Dwayne Adell is a pianist unlike any other that I’ve heard. His unique gift is remarkable in that he doesn’t practice the piano in the traditional sense but has the ability to play the most demanding, beautiful and inspiring melodies and harmonies.
When I listen to him I am filled with worship. I am amazed by the gift that he has been given. I don’t worship him. I worship the giver of the gift. When I’m basking in the sanctuary of nature I don’t worship the ocean or the trees, I worship the designer of all that calms and inspires me.
The writer of Psalm 8 seemed to understand how I feel in these moments of wonder. He writes:
8 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
My problems are small compared with the glory of all that God has created. My sickness or depression is a tiny thing compared with all the joy and healing expressed around me in so many ways from the hand of the one who gave us life. So it is important to spend time in things that create wonder in our hearts. For this wonder begets worship.
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
Ezra 7:10
Day 18: To Do It
I have made a study of weight loss methods: Low carb, Keto, The Maker’s Diet, and the list goes on. At some point it may be easy to get caught up in research and not translate the good information into committed action.
A great leader in the bible, Ezra was known for honoring God’s law. But it wasn’t that he just read about it. He prepared his heart to seek the law, TO DO IT, and to teach Israel. He learned. He did. He shared.
This is a great pattern for us. It’s good for us to learn. It’s even better for us to share. But that won’t take the place of doing. If I learn that my body is overwhelmed with stress and it’s causing me discomfort, the discomfort will not end until I deal with the stress. Maybe I need to plan a walk in my day out in nature. Maybe I need to unplug from my devices every evening after 8pm. Maybe you know things that will help reduce stress. Let’s do them. Let’s go beyond learning and get to doing.
Today I will do one new thing I’ve learned to improve my health.
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
— Isaiah 30:18
One of the most important things that we suffer from is an incorrect picture of God. It causes us a lot of anxiety. We imagine that God is a vindictive God looking to find every fault that we have and eager to destroy us for our sins. But how opposite is the truth!
When we look at how God responded to the fall of mankind we see a plan that costs Him dearly. Rather than destroy the sinners he decides to restore them. Hmmm. That seems to be the opposite of how many today describe Him. And the fact that God’s Son gives his life in order for us to be saved touches me deeply.
So when I am hurting I can come boldly or confidently to God because I know he cares for me. His love is healing. He has compassion. He is touched by what we go through.
Knowing I am the recipient of compassion enables me to have compassion for others. I don’t excuse what is wrong. But I consider the feelings and thoughts that lead to that action and seek to love them anyway and pray for them. I hope others will have compassion towards me. When I open myself to have compassion for others I find forgiveness and my heart begins to heal.
Today I choose to open up my heart towards others because I’m grateful for God’s compassion towards me.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
